Elite 100
Meet the Elite 100 of 2014!
Making it fun:
My class likes to do "IXL Sprints." They must start on a skill they haven't started working on yet and work throughout the time limit (usually about 10–20 minutes). For each skill they master, they get a reward. This can be either the whole class cheering... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL for whole group, small group, and homework! When in whole group, students will usually have individual whiteboards that they write the answer on. They show their answer all at once. This is helpful as a formative assessment so that I know which students need more small group instruction. During small group, the students have different "centers" or assignments to work on independently. One of these centers is IXL. I suggest skills that we are working on in class, but students may choose their own skills if they've already mastered the ones suggested. IXL helps with differentiated instruction, as students can work on a grade level above if they've mastered the 4th-grade-level standards already. I don't assign IXL for homework often as some students do not have Internet. However, I use the STAR reports to determine what skills each student can work on. I "assign" them two to three skills that they should have mastered by the end of the week. They have time in the morning and throughout the day to work on this—there is never time to do nothing in my classroom!
Making it fun:
My class likes to do "IXL Sprints." They must start on a skill they haven't started working on yet and work throughout the time limit (usually about 10–20 minutes). For each skill they master, they get a reward. This can be either the whole class cheering for them or a small piece of candy. The students really enjoy the sprints because many of them are competitive and enjoy immediate rewards.
Making it fun:
Any student that completes all assigned skills for the previous week at 100% accuracy is part of the Hundreds Club. I post a small postcard for each student, often with a little token (pencil or eraser or doodad) attached. The students love to come in and look for... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
Students are assigned one to two 20-minute blocks for IXL practice weekly in class on a set schedule. Occasionally we use some whole-class computer-lab time to work on assigned skills. I encourage students to do IXL for homework as well. Some are able to do so; others are not. Each Monday I assign on average four skills to complete by Sunday. These are usually related to the mathematics instruction or unit of study underway in class. I have used the site working with individuals or small groups before and after school as well.
Making it fun:
Any student that completes all assigned skills for the previous week at 100% accuracy is part of the Hundreds Club. I post a small postcard for each student, often with a little token (pencil or eraser or doodad) attached. The students love to come in and look for their recognition. They also announce to me during the week, "I'm in the Hundreds Club!" when they've achieved 100% on assigned skills. Sometimes, rather than the Hundreds Club, I post recognition for the TOP FIVE based on amount of time spent practicing. Our principal honors students who have practiced 10 or more hours over the summer and then well into the school year at school-wide town meetings. A colleague and I send reminder postcards two times during the summer to every student in our previous class to practice IXL. We also purchased pencils printed with “I'm an IXL star” which we use for incentives. I frequently print the bar graphs of usage and share them with students and quickly discuss our class usage trends. I always share and post IXL news flashes!
Strategies for success:
I use IXL to support my RTI students by providing an extra intervention and more practice to help them in areas they may struggle with. I have the ability to drop the grade level so that it isn't always an uphill battle. I also use IXL to push/challenge... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL to support my RTI students by providing an extra intervention and more practice to help them in areas they may struggle with. I have the ability to drop the grade level so that it isn't always an uphill battle. I also use IXL to push/challenge my higher-level math students. They love the challenge of teaching themselves new skills that we may not be doing in the classroom. Each week I assign IXL homework to my students based on what we are learning in class. I adjust the requirements based on the individual students—I may push one student to score 100%, while another student may be working to achieve 75% mastery.
Favorite teacher tools:
My absolute favorite part is all of the reports that I can use to help my class and individual students. They help me to hold my students accountable and give me an awesome way to report out to parents visually!
Students love IXL, too:
My students love the fact that IXL feels like a game! They enjoy earning "prizes" and watching their game board fill in! They also enjoy the responsibility of having weekly homework requirements that they can work on from the comfort of their living room. We keep track of all the skills the entire class has mastered, we print off the Certificates of Achievement that we earn, and once a quarter we set an IXL goal to work towards—which will earn them a reward!
Favorite teacher tools:
After the quantity and quality of skills, the many reports are appreciated the most. I am able to check what skills were attempted and need re-teaching, how much time was spent to achieve a SmartScore of 80, and reports for parents about... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL in many ways. After teaching a skill, IXL is a quick way to check for understanding. After re-teaching those who need it, skills are assigned as homework. The IXL skills reinforce classroom learning. After school I teach a remedial class and use IXL as a re-teaching tool and to check for understanding.
Favorite teacher tools:
After the quantity and quality of skills, the many reports are appreciated the most. I am able to check what skills were attempted and need re-teaching, how much time was spent to achieve a SmartScore of 80, and reports for parents about achievement.
Making it fun:
Rewards for those who achieve 80 or higher on assigned skills. Special recognition for 90 and higher, especially 100. Sometimes competition among students or groups of students spurs them to achieve.
Favorite teacher tools:
There are SO many IXL features that I love... 1) I love the CCSS goals that are broken down by grade level. 2) I love the data that I can examine. 3) I print out the charts and progress on each student for parent–teacher conferences. 4) I love... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I have used IXL in different ways. Because of the new CCSS goals, I adapt IXL to fit it in with our district's curriculum and curriculum goals. I printed out the IXL page on the grade level CCSS goals and I've made checklists out of it. I track the students' progress on these checklists. If there is a difficult concept or concepts that the students have problems with, I find the IXL practice for that goal and I give them extra practice. I have used it for whole class instruction and extra practice. I've used it to differentiate. I found that my "challenge level" group benefits from this more than my lower-leveled students. My lower-leveled students get more support from me, while I've had my independent-level group work ahead into the next grade-level curriculum at times.
Favorite teacher tools:
There are SO many IXL features that I love... 1) I love the CCSS goals that are broken down by grade level. 2) I love the data that I can examine. 3) I print out the charts and progress on each student for parent–teacher conferences. 4) I love the SmartScore. I find that it is very motivating for this generation of students. I think it helps build intrinsic learning in students. Often, I have students get to 90–95 as a goal. They get so many more practice problems than they would with a typical worksheet anyway. I find that many like to go to 100 and that pushes other students to do it, as well. 5) I love that the SmartScore drops when students miss questions. I feel that by the time they finally achieve their goal, they have truly earned it. 6) I love how there is a breakdown explaining how to do the problem and why they missed it. It motivates students to read and problem-solve.
Strategies for success:
I have been using IXL in my second-grade classroom for about five years. I assign about five medals daily. I try to go through and pick out the ones that match the CCRS standards that we are working on at the time. As soon as our students arrive... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I have been using IXL in my second-grade classroom for about five years. I assign about five medals daily. I try to go through and pick out the ones that match the CCRS standards that we are working on at the time. As soon as our students arrive at school, we start rotating them into the classroom to start IXL. I have five classroom computers that I can do IXL on. Most days I am able to secure our iPad cart also, so that each student has access. We spend about 30 minutes each morning working on IXL. One of the greatest things about IXL is that it is awesome for classroom management. I always have those students that are finished before everyone else and they love doing IXL. Also, students are always trying to earn their five medals before the day is finished, so any spare time that they have they are wanting to do IXL. It is a great program. I couldn't imagine teaching without it. We definitely attribute our higher math test scores to this program.
Making it fun:
I have magnetic cats with the students’ names on them on my whiteboard. I have made a Math Master's ladder with blue masking tape. As the students finish a medal, they move the cat up. We shoot for five each day and when you are at the top, you are a Math Master. At the beginning of the year, I offer a small prize when the student reaches the top. As the year progresses, I wean them off the prizes and they are just satisfied with making it to the top.
Students love IXL, too:
My students love the celebration banners and awards they receive when mastering a topic. It is a clear message of their accomplishment that they can revisit anytime. Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I am using IXL for homework. Each week, I select the topics that match the ones we are learning in language arts. Students have the entire week to work on the topics and attempt to master them. Also, they are not restricted to completing the assignment in a particular order. So, there are times that they teaching a topic to themselves and reviewing it with me in the classroom.
Favorite teacher tools:
As a middle-school language arts teacher, I appreciate the varied levels of the topics. If I am introducing a new topic, I can begin students on the sixth-grade lessons and move them to seventh- or eighth-grade lessons based on their individual needs.
Students love IXL, too:
My students love the celebration banners and awards they receive when mastering a topic. It is a clear message of their accomplishment that they can revisit anytime.
Making it fun:
I have an IXL Hall of Fame that I started last year for the boy and girl with the most skills mastered by the end of the year. I have an incentive chart where they get a sticker and a bingo board sign for every five skills they master... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL for enrichment and remediation in my classroom during our RTI process. Occasionally, I will assign a specific IXL skill to go with the lesson of the day. My students are required to master at least two IXL skills per week. If they don't get them done at school during the week, then it becomes homework to be done by Sunday at midnight.
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the learning support that appears after a student misses a problem. I really believe that it helps to create self-learners that are motivated to figure out what they are doing wrong in order to complete a skill.
Making it fun:
I have an IXL Hall of Fame that I started last year for the boy and girl with the most skills mastered by the end of the year. I have an incentive chart where they get a sticker and a bingo board sign for every five skills they master. For every IXL skill they master, they get to ring a bell and the class says a phrase like "Ka-ching!" or "Booyah!" The student with the most IXL skills for the week gets to choose a larger reward (sit with a friend for the day, eat in the booth at lunch, slushie, candy bar, teacher chair, etc.).
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the fact that when a student gets an answer incorrect, the program doesn't just move on but gives a detailed explanation of the correct answer. It's like they have a teacher right there to explain it to them. I also like the different... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL as reinforcement after I have taught a skill. To do this, I incorporate it into station work and I use it for homework.
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the fact that when a student gets an answer incorrect, the program doesn't just move on but gives a detailed explanation of the correct answer. It's like they have a teacher right there to explain it to them. I also like the different reports that are available. Since IXL is standards-based, it makes it easy to see which standards I need to focus my mini-lessons on.
Strategies for success:
Twenty minutes of homework are assigned each night. Although, some students don't complete this amount. Sometimes those who don't have a computer at home stay in at recess and go to the computer lab to do IXL work. Read more >>
Strategies for success:
Twenty minutes of homework are assigned each night. Although, some students don't complete this amount. Sometimes those who don't have a computer at home stay in at recess and go to the computer lab to do IXL work.
Making it fun:
I design monthly certificates that are handed out by the principal. We create our own bar graphs in math class with the data from our reports. We make announcements on the PA about the number of questions completed. I speak to parents at Open House to get them involved. I set up a competition to see who will complete the most on a weekend. We state that our goal is to complete all questions before the end of the academic year.
Students love IXL, too:
I know that the students love earning stickers. I often see them checking their progress. I have also showed the students how to monitor their own data, and they are excited to track how many questions they have answered and their... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL in every way possible: for whole-class practice, review, homework, and for class challenges. My students love having IXL challenges. Sometimes the challenges are in groups, partners, or individually. I usually assign a skill or skills that the students need to work together on to achieve 100. The student or students who accomplish this, I like to reward with no homework. It is very motivating for the kids, and I know once they have completed it, they have mastered the standard. It's a win-win!
Favorite teacher tools:
My favorite feature of IXL is that as students progress, they earn points and if they are incorrect, they lose points. This is important to me because I know once the students achieve 100 points, they have truly mastered the skill. You cannot get to 100 by chance or with luck. I also love that IXL allows you to work in any grade level. That way for my struggling students I can have them review skills from third grade, and for my gifted students I can challenge them and extend their knowledge by using skills and standards from the higher grade levels.
Students love IXL, too:
I know that the students love earning stickers. I often see them checking their progress. I have also showed the students how to monitor their own data, and they are excited to track how many questions they have answered and their usage.
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate how this math program aligns to the Common Core. Reports show me so much valuable data from daily/weekly/monthly student progress and class progress. I am able to hone in on class trouble spots and students' SmartScores to drive... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I have been using IXL in my fourth-grade math classes in a variety of ways. At times I use it to deliver mini-lessons. Using the IXL app on my iPad, I am able to project it for whole-group or small-group instruction. The capability of showing my work on the projection screen is very powerful. I can highlight key vocabulary and show my computation. As a result, students are able to visualize and comprehend the various steps required in solving math problems. My students are expected to practice assigned IXL skills every night as part of their homework which reinforces concepts introduced in class. In class, students who complete their math work early are always eager to work on their IXL accounts. This promotes fluency and accuracy as they master skills!
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate how this math program aligns to the Common Core. Reports show me so much valuable data from daily/weekly/monthly student progress and class progress. I am able to hone in on class trouble spots and students' SmartScores to drive future instruction.
Making it fun:
My students really get a thrill when they approach the Challenge Zone and ultimately master the skill. They also become excited when they earn prizes! I reward my students weekly for their effort (time usage) and accomplishments (SmartScores) with regards to the previous week's assignments. Often they are motivated to practice IXL over weekends, vacations, and snow days also. They enjoy when I inform them of the top three ranking students in class—healthy competition truly can be motivating. It is fun to celebrate the successes while encouraging one another!
Strategies for success:
I use IXL to follow-up on whole-class lessons. Some work is classwork, some is homework. I assign activities to be completed by all and challenge activities for students who can go beyond. I also use activities for small groups who need extra practice. About a... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL to follow-up on whole-class lessons. Some work is classwork, some is homework. I assign activities to be completed by all and challenge activities for students who can go beyond. I also use activities for small groups who need extra practice. About a month before standardized testing, I select key activities for practice that will review crucial skills.
Making it fun:
When I assign activities for the week or month, I follow up with certificates for students who completed all and made it into the "100% club." I also create "Exceeded the Expectation" certificates for children who complete the assigned and additional challenge activities. At the end of the quarter, I hang additional certificates in our hallway to announce students who did all the assigned activities to 100% for the entire quarter. My colleague and I had pencils made that say "I excelled with IXL." We give these out to the top five on Monday mornings to celebrate those who are working long and hard on learning math. What a hit!
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the ability to differentiate math work for my students. When my students master a topic, they can continue to move ahead at their own pace. My students who need extra practice can easily drop down a grade level to help build... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL in my classroom during math center rotations. Students work in teams throughout the week. Spiraling IXL skills into our curriculum helps to keep those skills sharp and increases student confidence. Students also access IXL from home for independent practice.
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the ability to differentiate math work for my students. When my students master a topic, they can continue to move ahead at their own pace. My students who need extra practice can easily drop down a grade level to help build a solid foundation for that particular skill.
Making it fun:
Each week, I select two IXL players of the week. I look for students who have made improvements toward mastering assigned skills. My class always looks forward to Monday morning when I add names to our IXL Wall of Fame.
Students love IXL, too:
My students are very competitive and they are looking forward to the next IXL usage competition you have. I do graph data for my students that show them the correlation between doing IXL skills and the standardized tests that they take for us. Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I assign IXL to my students for homework, but I allow for time in class, so that I can help students when possible. I plan the entire year out and give the students calendars, so those who would like to move ahead in the curriculum can move at a quicker pace. Those who move ahead become peer tutors to the other students in the class who may need help. Since I constantly update their skills, if I see one that they are all skipping or not achieving their 80 SmartScore, I will do a whole-class instruction.
Favorite teacher tools:
I love many features of IXL. The reports are fantastic and very user friendly. The one I use the most is Recent skills, so I can keep track of their skills and on the same page it shows the number correct and attempted so I can tell if they are struggling or guessing. I also like the report that lets me know exactly what time they are working on their skills, so I can tell if they are on IXL at night or on the weekends or in the after-school program. I also appreciate the fact that if the students are not correct, IXL will write the solution in detail for the students to understand how to work it out correctly.
Students love IXL, too:
My students are very competitive and they are looking forward to the next IXL usage competition you have. I do graph data for my students that show them the correlation between doing IXL skills and the standardized tests that they take for us. It is always a positive one! Their homework in IXL also counts for 15% of their grade, so most of them work very hard to keep up with their skills.
Strategies for success:
The first of the year, I work students up through the lower-grade-level skills. Hopefully, that fills any gaps. Then starting around Christmas, I assign skills that we are covering that week. Read more >>
Strategies for success:
The first of the year, I work students up through the lower-grade-level skills. Hopefully, that fills any gaps. Then starting around Christmas, I assign skills that we are covering that week. IXL supplements my whole-group instruction. I also appreciate the reports. I give a weekly grade and send a report home to parents.
Students love IXL, too:
They enjoy the ribbons awarded for mastering a topic and the prizes. Some students compete to see how many times they can master a topic by comparing ribbons. On some of the more challenging topics, I give a small treat when they... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
Each day I explain the material and do a few problems from IXL on the Smart Board. We discuss strategies for solving the problems and shortcuts which may save time and make the work more interesting.
Favorite teacher tools:
I like the reports, especially Student performance by skill. I like to see how long the student worked on the topic and how many problems they missed before the topic was mastered. If several problems were missed, even though it was eventually mastered, I can reinforce the concept the next day.
Students love IXL, too:
They enjoy the ribbons awarded for mastering a topic and the prizes. Some students compete to see how many times they can master a topic by comparing ribbons. On some of the more challenging topics, I give a small treat when they achieve SmartScores of 80, 90 and Mastered. This may be candy, a sticker, or just the time to play a math game.
Strategies for success:
We have weekly goals, quarterly goals, and year-end goals. Students have dedicated IXL time outside of core math time consisting of 30 minutes each day. Many students also work on IXL at home. IXL's rigor provides practice, ... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
We have weekly goals, quarterly goals, and year-end goals. Students have dedicated IXL time outside of core math time consisting of 30 minutes each day. Many students also work on IXL at home. IXL's rigor provides practice, reinforcement, and has a high correlation to being successful on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments held in the spring.
Favorite teacher tools:
I love the reporting suite, especially Standards performance, Improvement rankings, Standards performance by student, and Class usage log.
Making it fun:
We have weekly goals which net the students extra gym time. Quarterly goals get them game apps sent to their iPads. And upon completion of the fifth-grade standards, they have a special ceremony and a DQ Dilly Bar. Also, upon completion they never have to do the daily math lesson, and they move on to the sixth-grade standards in IXL.
Strategies for success:
My students have IXL daily homework which includes a series of skills to reinforce what is being taught in class, as well another set of skills that will help them reinforce what has been taught early during the school year or even during previous... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
My students have IXL daily homework which includes a series of skills to reinforce what is being taught in class, as well another set of skills that will help them reinforce what has been taught early during the school year or even during previous years. They also have personal plans created according to their level of proficiency and their scores on standardized tests—the plans consist of a series of skills that will strengthen all five math areas (number sense, algebra, geometry, data and probability, and measurement).
Favorite teacher tools:
For me, IXL has been an important component of my teaching for it gives me infinite ways to complement my instruction. Students using IXL become more skilled at independent learning. As a teacher I can assign skills to my students in such a way that no matter at which level of proficiency they are, they will improve dramatically. I love the idea of having skills for all grade levels because that gives me the opportunity to plan specific practice for the lower achievers as well as for the higher achievers.
Making it fun:
I told my students I would throw an ice cream party when they answered 100,000 questions and a pizza party for 200,000. We answered 245,000 questions last year! Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL as a "special" on the days we don't have one. I'll occasionally use it on the Smart Board for whole-group instruction. A couple times a week I'll use it for assessment purposes also. All students start on the skill they've been learning and then they move on to an area of interest or weakness. Most students with Internet access take advantage of IXL at home.
Making it fun:
I told my students I would throw an ice cream party when they answered 100,000 questions and a pizza party for 200,000. We answered 245,000 questions last year!
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the features of the reports because they are so easy to run and organize and find. I also appreciate how easy it is to find skills that correlate with their Common Core tasks they need to work on... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I currently am using IXL in whole class, small group and one-on-one instruction/intervention. At times, students will have skills to work on from home as well. We use class tracking on skills, and we have charts the kids fill out that are connected with their grades as well.
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the features of the reports because they are so easy to run and organize and find. I also appreciate how easy it is to find skills that correlate with their Common Core tasks they need to work on.
Making it fun:
My students receive an IXL punch card. As they master skills, they receive a hole punch on this card. When it’s full, they can redeem it for a treat or prize from the treasure chest and receive a new card for happy... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
Instruction begins in the classroom. My class is assigned computer-lab time for 30 minutes, two or three times a week. The students look forward to this time to practice and show what they have learned.
Favorite teacher tools:
As a teacher, I like how the program gives immediate feedback on questions answered incorrectly. Students are given the opportunity to review why they missed the problems. Of course, I use this as an opportunity to confer with students.
Making it fun:
My students receive an IXL punch card. As they master skills, they receive a hole punch on this card. When it’s full, they can redeem it for a treat or prize from the treasure chest and receive a new card for happy punching.
Favorite teacher tools:
I love that I can have kids in many different levels at the same time. I also love the ease of the reports. The most important thing is that as a teacher, I can log in and actually see what the kids are working on and even work them as a child... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL for my whole class, and I have set it set up in nine-week blocks. I have picked out the standards that I have to teach for a nine-week span. Then I match up the IXL sections that correlate. I assign the IXL standards for my kids to complete in a nine-week period. I keep a chart on the wall with all of the sections for that nine weeks on it. Then when a child finishes a section, I mark it on the chart. After each section is completed, they get a piece of candy and after all are completed, I give them a Coke. I use the program in homework and small-group work, mainly. When I see a problem with a concept, I will put the IXL section on the active board and will do a few problems as a whole group to re-teach a concept.
Favorite teacher tools:
I love that I can have kids in many different levels at the same time. I also love the ease of the reports. The most important thing is that as a teacher, I can log in and actually see what the kids are working on and even work them as a child on the board for the kids to see.
Students love IXL, too:
I think the students like the "ease" of the site. The questions are clear and the pictures or "click-on" fractions, blocks, or graphs give a great visual. I do give extra credit and letting the students work on the lower grades is sometimes fun for... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
Whole-class instruction. I forgo the textbook work and use IXL in its place. The instant feedback makes it a much better tool for classwork and instruction.
Students love IXL, too:
I think the students like the "ease" of the site. The questions are clear and the pictures or "click-on" fractions, blocks, or graphs give a great visual. I do give extra credit and letting the students work on the lower grades is sometimes fun for them. "Fun" but it actually lets them practice their math basics.
Strategies for success:
IXL is a supplement to our Math program at school. After a topic is taught, the students are required to complete the lessons on that topic. All of the topics that we teach are on IXL. This also applies to Language Arts... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
IXL is a supplement to our Math program at school. After a topic is taught, the students are required to complete the lessons on that topic. All of the topics that we teach are on IXL. This also applies to Language Arts. I love the fact that what I taught in class can be reinforced with IXL. The students enjoy going ahead and doing lessons that they know we are getting ready to learn, or that they have already mastered. I have an IXL Wall of Fame in my room where we keep track of how many medals each person has received.
Strategies for success:
I assign IXL as homework to help students review the previous year's curriculum needed to teach a new skill. For example, students might review simplifying fractions before I teach probability. We also use IXL as a quiz after homework... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I assign IXL as homework to help students review the previous year's curriculum needed to teach a new skill. For example, students might review simplifying fractions before I teach probability. We also use IXL as a quiz after homework worksheets to assess mastery, or for review before a chapter test.
Favorite teacher tools:
I love that it encourages accuracy especially when students reach the Challenge Zone. It discourages mediocrity, which I feel is a problem in today's "Everybody gets a trophy" world. I also like that each wrong answer comes with an explanation.
Strategies for success:
We use IXL weekly in our classroom. We use it many different ways. Sometimes, we will do a whole-class instructional lesson with it or will assign it for homework after we have gone over the material... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
We use IXL weekly in our classroom. We use it many different ways. Sometimes, we will do a whole-class instructional lesson with it or will assign it for homework after we have gone over the material.
Making it fun:
I will use it with our PBIS chart for our classroom, a treasure box, or a homeworkopoly spin. I always challenge my students to master every skill. We set challenges among them, and they work to motivate and help each other get the IXL skills mastered.
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the reports section and the fact that you can see the progress of each individual child or the entire class. I also like that you can track what each child is working on or has worked on. I appreciate the fact that you can see the amount of time spent... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use it for homework and then where there is improvement needed, I form my small groups. My students get homework points each week based on the amount of time they spend on IXL. They have to complete 20 minutes a day minimally.
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the reports section and the fact that you can see the progress of each individual child or the entire class. I also like that you can track what each child is working on or has worked on. I appreciate the fact that you can see the amount of time spent on IXL. All of these features assist me in individualizing my math program to meet the specific needs of my students.
Making it fun:
I use it as 10% of students’ report card grade. In the past I have also given plaques or trophies for the three highest scoring students. I have also posted the "Top IXL Performers" of the week on the whiteboard. The more you do to motivate... Read more >>
Strategies for success:
I use IXL in my class as math and language arts homework that supports my Common Core curriculum. I have assigned it for students to practice difficult concepts that have been taught in class. I am experimenting with assigning the work before we teach it as well to help the students with their test scores. I am constantly experimenting with different ways of utilizing the program and motivating the students. I have found it works best if you are careful to assign the right amount of work for the skill level of your students. Homework skills are my minimum requirement, but I allow students to do more work within their grade-level skills if they wish to. This helps with differentiation for those students who are more advanced.
Favorite teacher tools:
I appreciate the e-mail notifications and the detailed reports the most. It is beneficial that students are motivated to submit answers cautiously in the challenge section in order to pass with a SmartScore of 100. This indirectly teaches the importance of being certain before they click the Submit button.
Making it fun:
I use it as 10% of students’ report card grade. In the past I have also given plaques or trophies for the three highest scoring students. I have also posted the "Top IXL Performers" of the week on the whiteboard. The more you do to motivate the kids, the better.